Method and mechanism for lubricating locomotive-driving-rod journals



Dec. 9, 1930.

R. S. WILLIAMS METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR LUBRICATING LOCOMQTIVE DRIVING ROD JOURNALS Filed July a, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9, 1930. R. s. WILLIAMS 1,734,405

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR LUBRICATING LOCOMOTIVE DRIVING ROD JOURNALS Patented Dec. 9. 193G UNITED STATES ROGER STONE WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR LUBRICATING LOCOMOTIVE-DR-IVING-ROD JOURNALS Application filed July 8,

My invention relates to oil g and greasing systems for lubricating bodi ly movable parts.

The purpose of my invention is to provide continuous independent lubrication U) parts, notwithstanding movements of the parts.

A further purpose is to apply pressure where necessary to lubrication of such parts as cross head pins, crank pins, etc., lubricating through joints mo able with the movement of the parts.

A further purpose is to provide for interconnection of moving parts through hinge joints carrying a plurality of independent lubricating lines, either gravitv or pressure fed, distributing the lubricant to separate bearings through tubing individual to the bearmgs.

A further purpose is to join individual supply pipes for lubricant through grooves and passages in cooperating hinge members to distributing pipes leading to other hinge connections or to individual bearings A further purpose is to carry individual distributing pipes upon the movable side bar and connecting rod of a locomotive and to connect the individual distributing prpe through movable joints across the relatively movable parts from the bar to the rod or from the rod to a fixed member.

A further purpose is to heat a plurality of ducts which pass through swinging joints by steam transmitted through one of the ducts.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by one form only. selecting a form which is practical, efficient and reliable and which at the same time illustrates the principles in volved.

Figure 1 is an outline side elevation of a locomotive showing my invention applied to it.

Figure 1a is a fragment of a modification.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the structure seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section showing the structure seen in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the joints seen in Figure 2, the see- 1927. Serial No. 204.167.

tion being taken parallel with the paper in that figure Figure 5 is a top plan view and partial section of the structure seen in Figure 4.

Figure (3 is an end elevation of one of the members seen in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is an end elevation of another of the members seen in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a section of Figure 7 corresponding to line 88 of that figure.

Figures 9 and 10 are elevations of washers shown in Figure 4.

Figure 11 is a section upon line 1111 of Figure 4.

Figure 12 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of one of the individual bearing sections of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 13 is an enlarged section of Figure 2 upon line 13-13.

Figure 14 is an enlarged section of Figure 3 upon line 1414.

Figure 15 is a bottom plan View of the structure seen sectioned in Figure 14.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts.

The locomotive shown is provided with the usual cross head 16, guides 17, connecting rod 18, side bar 19, driving wheels and driving wheel crank pins 21, 22, 23 of which 22 is extended as usual to ati'ord bearing for the end of the connecting rod opposite that having bearing on the cross head pin 24.

All of these pins and their surrounding bearings in the bar and rod have movements of translation making it ditlicult to supply oil or grease to them, with the result that they sometimes fail oi lubrication and heat. excessively, causing a loss of power and injuring the bearings. This is a rather frequent source of serious trouble in engine lubrication.

My invention is intended to overcome this by providing an individual lubricant supply to each of the bearings through joints which keep separate the several lubricant supply lines for the respective bearings.

Starting with any suitable reservoir, preferably an oil reservoir 25, I may carry the lubricant, whether oil or grease, part of the way in bulk as through a pipe 26 or may separate it into individual tubes or ducts beginning at the tank. In this latter case the pipe 26 would still be used for protective purposes and in either case the pipe connects with one of the joint members making up the first hinge of my series of hinge connections. Assuming that the individual ducts or tubes start at the tank 25 the pipe 26 and the tubes or ducts 27 contained in it are alike connected to a fitting 28 having openings corresponding with the tubes or ducts, so that these openings may be connected through a washer 29 with one of two cooperating hinge members. here shown as a strap 30. The connection is made by coupling 231. The washer is provided with openings 32 so located and of such shape as to match up with passages 33 in the boss 34 of this strap hinge member. The passages 33 connect with corresponding individual grooves 35 in a mating hinge member 36. The inner member is here shown as a cylinder and the strap turns about it. The cylinder is provided with individual passages 37 connecting the several grooves with separate orts 38 opening about the circumference o the hub or hubs 39, 39'.

Connection is made with these ports 38 through passages 40 in a yoke $1. The passages terminate within a boss 42 where they are connected through apertures 43 ot a washer ll with openings cor esponding with individual tubes or ducts 43 in a fitting 4G. he litting is secured to the boss by a coupling 47 and the pipes space and support the joints, one with respect to another and at the same time protect the tubes or ducts.

The yoke is split at 48 and the parts are clamped together about the inner hinge tube connector by bolts or studs -19.

Leakage between the inner and outer hing members axially of the members is taken care of by di. 50 fastened to one of the memtier and carrying glandcd packing 51 protecting the joint between them.

This joint is intended to illustrate one form only of a considerable variety of forms oi hinged connections by which individuality of gravity or pressure streams passin through the hinge is maintained while movement of the group of tubes or ducts at each end is provided. It may be used to transmit grease or oil through as many tubes or ducts as there are L'IOUVO. in the outer and inner couplingmem rs and permit press to be niainta. d where d' '-'ircdv Joints: of .h

or imilar mm a scissoislihe nuancuiou in which the individual tubes r ducts iec ivc separate supply through the omicction and are protected by the pipes Sn. iii". (M and or The joint 7:2 is mounted upcn a fixed up port (32. The joints it. 75 a re 'ried by the connecting rod and oint ST i carried by the side bar.

The connecting wiping "is. .19 and 43th til.

with the three joints 52, 53, 54 and 55 56, 57 forms in each case a scissors-like connection which opens and shuts with increase and decrease in the distance between the parts or in the angle between the rods so as to accommodate these movements without disturbing the connections between the individual tubes or ducts 27 on one side at each joint to the corresponding individual tubes or ducts 45 upon the other side at the same joint.

Pipe section 63 connects joint 5a with a distributor 64 by which the most of the tubes are merely supported and passed through to protective pipe 59, but from which one of the tubes 45' is taken out through an opening (35 and pipe (36 to connect with lnbricator (37 carried by the connectin rod.

The T distributor is split at 68 and the parts are held together by bolts 69.

The several protective pipes are firmly supported upon the connecting rod and side bar by straps or clamps 70, 70' of which the latter are shown enlarged in Figure 13. The support of the rotective pipes in turn supports the attache distributors and members of the swinging joints.

Pipe 59 leads from distributor 64 to a second distributor 64 where a tube or duct is taken out through protective pipe 66 connecting with lubricator 71.

The remaining tubes or ducts are connected through protective pipe 6; with one of the relatively swinging members of joint 55 and. through the successive joints 55, 56 and 57 coni'iccting pipes 61 and (31' and pipe 66 to a further distributor 64 At this distributor the tubes or ducts enter the distributor through a stem connection and pass out through opposite ends and through a side outlet, a single tube or duct extends through pipe T2 to bearing T3 and the others. through pipes Ti and to bearings 75 and 77.

()ne of the bearings is illustrated in Figure 12. A pipe T3 is connected to a fitting 78 with which the supply tube 45 is also connected.

maintained under pressure by use of a suitable threaded cap 81.

it will be evident that i provide individual onneriiou troni any d sired point. preterrcservou' to the bearings to be lubripas ing' through elbow connectors uoniprisiug hing-es having individual pas wages and tubing connecting these passages. t )bviouslv as many as thc c elbow connectors an be u ed as may be desired.

it will he further evident that the surr- 'iuline; piping pert'orna verv desirable ioubb function in protecting the tubing and in spacing. stitlening and sustaining the several hinge joints. but that it can be omitted where these functions are unnecessary or are otherwise performed.

As indicated, my system is suitable for gravity feed and also for pressure feed. Grease, of course, requires pressure feed and larger passages than are required for oil. Where there is no back pressure to prevent free flow of the oil, gravity oil feed may he provided; but this again is a function of the flow characteristics of the oil. A heavy oil would move slowly and might require pressure where a lighter, thinner oil would flow freely. Again, a warm oil would flow more freely than a very cold oil.

\Vhere the oil is heated, or where gravity feed can be relied upon for other reasons, I prefer to control my gravity feed by individual valves 82 and pass the oil through drip cups or sight feed indicators 83, so that the amount of oil fed may be definitely determined and may be verified at any time.

My invention possesses the additional advantage that the entire system may be heated easily by the simple expedient of utilizing one of the normal ducts, or a special duct, to carry steam through the pipes such as 26, and through the swinging joints to any point or points of distribution desired. Where it is the desire to Warm up the swinging joints only, the tube or duct may discharge to the atmosphere as soon as the last swinging joint has been passed.

I show connections for applying the steam and for exhausting it in Figures 1 and 2, where a T 64 supplies steam to one or more of the communicating ducts 45, from a cab source of steam supply 85 through a pipe 84. The ducts carrying steam may desirably parallel the lubricating ducts and follow through the swinging joints and to the point where lubrication is to be applied close to the respective lubricating duct. Valve 86 controls the steam supply and the steam pipe discharges at any point 87. If the weather is not sufliciently cold to require that a steam tube shall follow each lubricating duct to the point of application of the lubricant, I can of course provide a steam tube to follow a given lubricating duct through part of its length, or to follow several lubricating ducts to the point where they separate.

I show a reservoir as a convenient source of supply Whether the feed be by gravity or by pressure upon the surface of the oil within the reservoir. However, it is of course obvious that the pressure source of supply may be of very different character such as by direct pump feed.

It is also obvious that the actual flow of lubrication, most desirably steady in its application to the bearings may be intermittently applied without departing from the invention described. Intermittent lubrication feed would obtain a part of the benefit of my invention by filling the oil cups or other containers at the hearing at the intervals determined upon, whether the time determination be automatic or not and would merely not take full advantage of the benefits of my invention.

With the above reasons in mind I have referred in my claims to a source of pressure supply rather than to a reservoir and have generally omitted reference in the claims to the question of whether the feed be continuous or discontinuous.

Though I have described the best form known to me under the requirement of the statute in the special hinge joint illustrated, I recognize that there may be great variety in these joints with recognized advantage for some purposes in each of the different forms.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain part or all of the benefits of my inVention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a lubricating device for relatively moving parts, a source of lubricant supply, individual ducts extending therefrom to a relatively fixed position adjacent to the moving parts, an elbow connector including hinge joints each having individual passages connecting with the separate ducts, other ducts between the joints conpected with the several passages, and individual ducts from the last of the joints to the bearings intended to be lubricated.

2. A pressure supply for lubricant, conduit connections from the supply to a fixed member adjacent relatively moving parts. a swinging connection comprising several conduit joints and connecting ducts maintaining individual conduit passages through the connection and individual ducts connecting the several joints and from the last joint to the hearings to be lubricated.

3. A connecting rod lubricator comprising a relatively fixed source of lubricant, individual ducts from the source to a point adjacent the connecting rod, relatively hinged joints at the ends of the ducts, mounted upon the cross-hcad. and connecting rod and carried between the two respective y, each having individual passages t'onnetted, one to each of the individual ducts, and individual ducts connecting with the passages in the joints and beyond the joints connected with the hearings to he lubricated.

4. In a distributing system for lubricants adapted to lubricate bearings in moving parts of machinery, a source of lubricant and con nections from the source under pressure to the individual bearings, comprising individual ducts for the separate bearings and swinging connectors having several passages, one for each duct, maintained in connection during the swinging movement.

A lubricating device for a connecting rod and side bar bearings, comprising a source of lubricant, a system of swinging joints ha v ing individual fluid passages through the joints and secured to a. relatively fixed part and to the connecting rods at its ends, respectively, individual ducts connecting the source and one end of the swinging joint system, individual duct connections from joint to joint, connecting the passages and individual duct connections from the joint upon the connecting rod to connecting rod bearings.

(3. A lubricating device for connecting rod and side bar bearings, comprising a source of lubricant, a swinging joint system having individual fluid passages through the joints and secured to a relatively fixed part and to the connecting rod, at its ends, respectively, individual ducts connecting the reservoir and one end of the swinging joint system, individual duct connections from hinged joint to hinged joint, individual duct connections from the joint upon the connecting rod to the connecting rod bearings and to a second swinging joint system, one hinged terminal joint of which is supported on the connecting rod and the other of which is mounted upon the side bar, individual duct connections between the hinged joints of the swinging joint system adapted to maintain individual connections between the'joints and individual ducts distributing from the second swinging joint system to the side bar bearings.

7. A lubricating device for a connecting rod and side bar bearings comprising a source of lubricant. a swinging joint sy-tem having individual fluid passages through the joints and secured to a relatively tixed part and to the connecting roll. at its ends, respectively, individual ducts connecting the reservoir and one end of the swinging joint system, individual duct connciiions troui hinged joint to hinged joint. supporting pipes between the joints. individual duct connections from the joint upon the connecting rod to the connecting rod bearings and to a second swinging joint systenn one hinged joint terminal of which is supported on the connecting rod and the other of which is mounted upon the side bar, individual duct connections between the hinged joints of the second swinging joint system, adapted to maintain individual connections between the joints. individual ductdistribution from the second swinging joint system to the side bar bearings and supporting pipes between the joints, protecting the individual ducts.

8. A lubricator for bearings having a plu rality of individual ducts comprising tubes connected by swinging joints carrying the lubricant from the source of supply to the bearing and a steam duct passing through the swinging joints paralleling the position of the ducts and close to them to heat the lubricant and improve its fluidity.

9. In a lubricating system for bearings, a plurality of ducts extending from a source of supply to a relatively fixed member, a plurality of corresponding ducts connected with the bearings to be lubricated and adapted to be mounted upon a relatively moving part and a swinging joint having passages in one swinging part in continued contact with passages in another, connecting the two sets of ducts and maintaining individual connection from duct to duct notwithstanding relative movement of the two sets of ducts.

10. In a, lubricating system for bearings, a plurality of ducts extending from a source of supply to a relatively fixed member, a'

plurality of corresponding ducts connected with the bearings to be lubricated and adapt ed to be mounted upon a relatively moving part, a swinging joint connecting the two sets of ducts and maintaining connection notwithstanding relative movement of the two sets of ducts and steam pipe connections paralleling the ducts and extending through the swinging joint to heat the ducts.

11. In a lubricating system two sets of ducts adapted to be mounted to move, one set with respect to the other, a swinging joint between the ducts having groove and passage connection whereby individual ducts of one set are connected respectively with individual ducts of the other set.

12. In a lubricating system two sets of ducts adapted to be mounted to move, one set with respect to the other. a swinging joint between the ducts having groove and passage connection whereby individual ducts of one set are connected respectively with individual ducts of the other and oil connections for part of the ducts and steam connection for one of the ducts.

R )G Elt STONE \VILLIAMS. 

